Sled



Sept. 12, 1944. 1 BOWEN TAL 2,357,928

sLED

Filed March 16, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l N VENTOS fame/farzraeo wem,

Sept. l2, 1944. J. M. BOWEN ET Al. 2,357,928

SLED Filed March 16, 1943 2 sheets-sheet 2 w/T/vgss er HTTORNEY Patented Sept. 12, 1944 sLED' James Monroe Bowen, Cape May Court House, N. J., and Edwin K. Bonner, Jr., Torresdale, Pa., assignors to S. L. Allen & Co., Inc., Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 16, 1943, Serial No. 479,334

9 Claims.

The sled of our invention is of distinctly different design and construction from the usual steering sleds embodying narrow laterally flexible metallic runners and comprehends novel features which contribute to its adaptability for use on various types of coasting surfaces such as soft snow, hard snow or even ice, which enable it to be readily steered on a desired course and which provide extremely good riding qualities. It therefore marks a distinct departure from conventional sled practice.

More particularly, a principal object of the invention is the provision of a sled having runners approximating a conventional ski in design and thus presenting a relativelywide face for normal engagement with the surface on which the sled is supported, the runners being so arranged that they may be independently inclined or oscillated transversely substantially about their longitudinal median lines or axes to steer the sled.

A further object is the provision in a sled having runners of the aforesaid character of means for supporting the sled deck therefrom in such manner that either runner, while capable of the aforesaid oscillation, can be raised from the sled supporting surface, when it encounters an obstacle or the like, without disturbing the relation of the other runner thereto, the rst runner, deck and other parts moving relatively to the other runner under such conditions.

A still further object is the provision in a sled of a 3-point suspension or support for the sled deck whereby maximum freedom of movement in predetermined directions between the runners and I.

the deck is attained and the riding and steering qualities of the sled enhanced.

Other objects and novel features of design, construction and arrangement comprehended by our invention are hereafter more fully pointed out or 'will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description of a preferred embodiment of our sled as illustrated inthe accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the sled as it appears when resting on a flat surface;

Fig. 2 is a top plan View thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse vertical section substantially on line 3-3 in Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows with certain parts broken away to better show internal construction; Fig. 4 is a View generally similar to Fig. 3 but showing the runners oscillated or ,edged as when the sled is being steered to the right;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail in transverse vertical section through one of the runners and associated parts;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the sled with the runners edged to the left as when making a turn thereto;

ings, as hitherto stated and as shown therein,

the sled comprises a pair of runners I, 2, each preferably made of wood and conforming in general design to a Aconventional ski, disposed in substantially parallel relation and suitably spaced apart. Approximately the rear half of each runneris of rectangular or substantially rectangular cross section and considerably thicker than the front half which is faired down to increase its flexibility vertically and longitudinally while its forward extremity is curved upwardly, tapered in on each side and provided with a grip 3 of a shape to afford a comfortable hand hold for the occupant of the sled; if desired, the upper corners of each runner adjacent its rear end may be chamfered off as at 4 to enhance appearance and lessen weight. The runners are of maximum width, usually in the neighborhood of 3, just in Vrear of their turned-up ends and thence desirably taper slightly rearwardly, and each thus presents a relatively wide flat or substantially fiat under face for engagement'with a supporting sur- Y face and this face may, if desired,'be provided with one or more longitudinal grooves 5 extend; ing from the rear end of the runner to a point a little inadvance of that where it begins to thin out, these grooves tending to prevent the sled from slipping sideways when in motion. The run'- ners may be flatv rearwardly of their turned-up portions as shown,but if preferred may be formed with a slight camber similar to the usual ski, and may be either solid or laminated, again in conformity with ordinary ski construction.

. Disposed above and extending transversely of the runners are a pair'of'longitudinally spaced bolsters 6, 1 which are connected to therunners as hereinafter described. The front bolster 6, which is located adjacent the front ends of the thick parts of the runners, is preferably flat on curved from its center along its upper edge (Figs. 3, 4 and 8), the bolsters being preferably made of woodrand of sturdy construction.

The means by which the bolsters 'are connected adjacent their lower lateral extremities to the 'runners are designed to permit independent oscillation'of-'the latter relatively tothe bolsters substantially about the median longitudinal axes of the runners, and while the said means may be of any type and construction suitable for this purpose, we prefer to utilize ball and socket connecting means suchas are most clearly illustrated in Fig. and generally designatedv as Il!l in the drawings, said means therefor-e com-prising a pair of plates Il, l2 which are struck out in opposite directions proximate their centers to form substantially hemispherical cavities so that when the plates are reversed, superposed on each other and secured by screws I'3 to the upper surface of the runner they will define a substantially spherical socket for 4the reception of a ball l5 on one end of a stem I6 which passes through ai hole in the center of the struck-'out portion'of plate l2 and thence upwardlyrthrough the superjacent portion ofthe bolster 6 or 1 as `the case may be, a flange I1 integral with or welded to thestem above the ball forming a seat Y over each runner and extend from a pgint somewhat in advance of the front bolster to one somewhat in rearof the rear bolster and, near their forward ends, are connected by a transversely extending cleat 2l lying underneath and riveted near itsV extremities to the superjacent extremities of therails, While the latter are connected near their rear ends by a pair of transversely extending benches23, 274 respectively disposed on opposite sides of and closely adjacent the rear bolster 1 to whichY they are pivoted by a longitudinally extending pivot pin 25 located midway. between its ends.

The ends of this pin t tightly in` holes at the centers of the benches and are prevented from turning in any convenient way as by a nail 26 d riven'through` the bench and into the pin, while its center portion hasV a somewhat looser fit in the hole in the bolster Ythrough which it passes so as to insure freedom of oscillation of the benches relatively to the bolster. It is preferable that the diameter of the pin be relatively great toniinimize wear between it and the bolster and also,.particularly. when th'e pin is made of Wood, to insure the requisite strength at this point.V As stated, rails 2U overlie the benches and are suitably securedto their `upper faces as by bolts 21 extending `downwardly through the rails and benchesand headed over against washers seating onthe lower faces of the latter. Y

The cleat 2|, front bolster S-and benches 23, 24 support the sled deck 30 Vwhich'may be in one pieceV or, as shown, composed of a plurality of ,Y pieces nailed or otherwise secured to the deck supporting parts,V the frontend ofthe deck terminating somewhat inadvance ofthe VVcleat and the rear end somewhat behind the bench 24.

Vis capable of limited oscillation about pin 25 with respect to the rigid unitary'structure or assembly comprising the deck, cleat 2|, front bolster, side rails and benches; that each runner is likewise capable of limited oscillation with respect to the two bolsters substantially about its longitudinal median line or axis and finally that the rear bolster is constantly maintained parallely to the front bolster by the benches between which it is disposed' and pin 25 correspondingly relieved of 'lateral thrust;

whereby, in turn, the runners are at all times Y positively maintained in alignment and properly spaced apart and any tendency of one runner to advance ahead of the other or vice versa vdefinitely prevented. It will also be apparent that the unitary deck assembly as above defined is supported at three points; namely', the

two front bolster connecting means I0 and the Y pivot pinr25, so that when the runners are resting on a supporting surface either may be r lifted directly upward o r at' one end or the other without disturbing the other runner, the deck assembly accommodating, itself to the movements of the lifted runner as required, the whole construction thus affording extreme flexibility yet constantly maintaining the runners in properly yaligned relation transversely and longitudinally while allowing them to rise and fall with respect to each other and to be independently oscillated about connections l0 as hitherto explained. g Y

When the sled is being used for coasting, the operator lies face down on the deck and grasps grips 3 at the forward ends lof the runnerswhereby his weight is centered approximately over the bolster 6, and as long as it is desired to have thek sled move in a straight line, 4as it` tends to [do under all ordinary conditions, he exercises little or no pressure on the grips. To steer it in' either direction, however, twisting pressure is' exerted on the grips Primarily to turn therunne-rs edgewise on connections ID and also to twist their forward portions somewhat inthefdirection'in whichit is wished to direct the sled, that is, pressure is applied to the grips so as to force the left hand lateral edges of the runnersrdownwardly and raise their righthand edges when it is desired to turn to the left (Fig. 6) and vice versa substantially as skisY are similarly edged to the left to turnV thereto andl edgedtothe Yright to turn inV that direction. Th'eturr'iing effort thus imposed on the sled may be enhanced bya slight shifting of the operators weight upon the deck toward the sideto whichV theturn is being made and under actual operating conditions it is found that with very little practicethe sled 'may be steered with theV utmost rease andv with 'almost the same degree of sharpness?V as the usual conventional steeringvsled having laterally iii-:lxibleV metal runners, 'Y j v g Mention has been made of the fact that either runner may be raisedV relatively to the sledY s upporting surface without disturbing the relation of the other runner thereto and Figs. "7 andVA 8 lare illustrative of this capacity, showing as theydo the position of the parts when one ofthe runners of the moving sled, in this ycase left hand runner 2, encounters an obstacle O `such as a cake of hard snow or ice which tends to lift its forward movements of runner 2. In consequence of this ability of the deck assembly to move accordance with Vertical motion of either runner without disturbing the normal positionof the other, the sled when traveling over a rough surface has an extremely easy motion which materially contributes to the enjoymentV of the user. y

v A distinct advantage of our sled in addition to its ease of steering, ability t travel comfortably over rough terrain and extreme speed on almost any type of surface suitable for coasting, resides in the fact that its construction requires the use of but a minimum amount of metal since its major parts are preferably, though not necessarily, formed o-f wood and it is thus well adapted to production under existing conditions when metal is frequently diicultto obtain.

Finally, it is to be understood that while we have herein illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of our invention with considerable particularity, we do not thereby desire or intend to specifically restrict or conne ourselves thereto in any way as if desired many changes fand modifications may he made in details of design,l construction and assembly and `in other particulars without departing from the spirit and scope of -by the runners may be independently oscillated by the grips substantially about their median lines and their forward parts twisted on themselves to depress either of their lateral edges 'and correspondingly elevate the other edge, and

deck structure supported above the holsters.

2. A sled comprising laterally spaced runners each approximating a conventional ski in design, a pair of longitudinally spacedy holsters extending transversely between the runners, means hingedly connecting each runner to each bolster for oscillation in a plane parallel to the holsters whereby either lateral edge of either runner may be depressed and its other lateral edge correspondingly raised relatively to the holsters, a hand grip at the front end of each runner in substantial prolongation thereof whereby said oscillation may Ibe effected and the forward part of the runner twisted on itself by the occupant of the sled, and deck structure supported by and above the `holsters.

3. A sled having laterally spaced runners each adapted for oscillation substantially about its longitudinal vaxis and runner ,interconnecting means extending therebetween, and a deck struc- -.be oscillated substantially about their longituture above Vthe grunnerzs movably supported at three points, one located on each runner and the third midway betweenthe runners on one oftheY connecting mea'ns. n Y.

4. Asled having a pair of laterally spaced runners each upwardly inclined at its forward end and presenting a relatively wide under face for Contact witha supporting surface, longitudinally spaced holsters extending transversely between the runners, meanshingedly connecting each runner therewith whereby the `runners lmay be oscillated substantially aboutV their longitudinal median axes relatively to the holsters, and deck structure rigidly secured to one bolster and pivotally connected to the other bolster.

5. A sled having a pair of laterally spaced runners each upwardly inclined *at its forward end and presenting a relatively wide under face for contact with a supporting surface, longitudinally spaced holsters extending transversely between the runners,means hingedly connecting each runner therewith whereby the runners may dinal median axes relatively to the holsters, `deck structure rigidly secured to the front holster, and means Y interconnecting said structure and the rear bolster for relative oscillation about a longiv tudinal axis. y

6. Ay sled having a pair of laterally spaced runners each upwardly inclined at its forward.

end and presenting a relatively wide under face for contact with a `supporting surface, longitudinally'spaced holsters extending transversely betweenY the runners, meanshingedly connecting each runner therewith whereby the runners 7.A sled having a pair of laterally spaced runners each upwardly inclined at its forward end and presenting a relatively wide under face for contactV with a supporting surface,V longi-r tudinally spaced holsters extending transversely between the runners, means hingedly connecting each runner therewith whereby the runners may be oscillated substantially about their 1ong'itudinal mdian axes relatively to the holsters, and deck structure overlying and rigidly secured to the front holster and including a pair of'benches disposed on opposite sides of and parallel to the rear bolster, and a longitudinally extending pivot pin interconnecting said benches and bolster.

8. A sled comprising a pair of laterally spaced runners each approximating a conventional ski in design, a. hand grip at the front endv of each runner, a pair of ylongitudinally spaced Ytransversely yextending holsters above the runners,

ball and socket means movahly connecting each bolster with the subjacent portion of each runner, a bench disposed on each side of and parallel to the rear bolster, laterally spaced side rails extending from the front bolster to said benches and rigidly secured to each, pivot means interconnecting the benches with the rear bolster for relative movement about a longitudinal axis, anda deck between theside rails supported by Y and secured to the front bolster and the benches.

9. lAsledcomprising a pair of Alaterally 4spaced Wooden runners each Ypresenting a 4relatively wide under face for contact with a supporting ally by application of twisting force to its said end, a hand grip onrsad end, a pair of longitudinally spaced bolsters above the runners, ball and socket connections between the bolsters and 10 each runner, and a deck structure including a deck and side rails laterally spaced therefroinall rigidly secured to the front bolster,V a .pair of Abenches adjacent and lying `on opposite sides of the rear bolster and rigidly secured to the deck i and rails, and a longitudinally( extending pivot pin connecting the benches and rear bolster` for` oscillation labout its axis.

JAMES MONROE BOWEN.V A'

`EDWIN K. `BONNERWJR. 

